May 23, 2018

Michael Cohen's business partner strikes plea deal

Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Michael Cohen's partner, Evgeny Freidman, has agreed to assist state and federal investigators as a witness in exchange for no jail time, the New York Times reports.

Why it matters: This is more bad news for Cohen, and potentially for President Trump. As Axios' Jonathan Swan and Mike Allen reported, Cohen "is potentially more perilous to President Trump than anybody else." Per the Times, this plea deal could result in added pressure on Cohen to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller.

The details: Freidman, a Russian immigrant, was facing four criminal tax fraud charges and one grand larceny charge. He pled guilty on Tuesday to one count of evading $50,000 in taxes, and faces five years of probation if he holds up his end of the plea deal, the Times reports.

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Axios
Updated 9 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 4:30 p.m. ET: 30,306,469 — Total deaths: 948,147— Total recoveries: 20,626,515 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 4:30 p.m. ET: 6,705,114 — Total deaths: 198,197 — Total recoveries: 2,540,334 — Total tests: 92,163,649 — Map.
  3. Politics: In reversal, CDC again recommends coronavirus testing for asymptomatic people.
  4. Health: Massive USPS face mask operation called off — The risks of moving too fast on a vaccine.
  5. Business: Unemployment drop-off reverses course — 1 million mortgage-holders fall through safety net — How the pandemic has deepened Boeing's 737 MAX crunch.
  6. Education: At least 42% of school employees are vulnerable.
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Maria Arias
35 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Court battles shift mail-in voting deadlines in battleground states

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Michigan joins Pennsylvania in extending mail-in ballot deadlines by several days after the election, due to the coronavirus pandemic and expected delays in U.S. Postal Service.

The latest: Michigan Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens ruled that all ballots postmarked before Nov. 2 must be counted, so long as they arrive in the mail before election results are certified. Michigan will certify its general election results on Nov. 23.

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Ina Fried, author of Login
39 mins ago - Technology

Interview: Unity CEO explains his company's unusual IPO

CEO John Riccitiello virtually ringing the NYSE bell as Unity shares began trading on Friday. PhotoL Unity

Unity Technologies was just one of many companies with blockbuster IPOs this week, but it took a decidedly different approach, using data rather than handshakes to decide who got to invest and at what price. CEO John Riccitiello explained why in an interview with Axios.

Why it matters: Traditionally, bankers and companies set IPO prices based on conversations and expectations, a process that has been criticized as basically leaving money on the table.

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